2013–14 Connacht Rugby season

2013–14 Connacht Rugby season
Ground(s) Galway Sportsgrounds
(Capacity: 7,800)
Coach(es) Pat Lam
Captain(s) September–November[1]
Gavin Duffy
John Muldoon
Michael Swift
December–May[2]
Craig Clarke
Most appearances Kieran Marmion
Dan Parks (both 28)
Top scorer Dan Parks (157)
Most tries Kieran Marmion (7)
Pro12
Heineken Cup		 10th
Pool stage (4th)
1st kit
2nd kit
2014–15 →

The 2013–14 Connacht Rugby season was the team's thirteenth season competing in the Pro12 as well as their third season to compete in the Heineken Cup. Following the departure of Eric Elwood, the 2013–14 season saw Pat Lam take charge of the team as head coach.

Review

Background

The previous season's head coach Eric Elwood departed Connacht at the end of his third year in charge, having announced his intention to leave his post in October 2012.[3] His replacement was announced in January 2013, with the New Zealand born former Samoa international Pat Lam appointed to coach the team.[4] Lam had previously served as head coach to Super Rugby side the Auckland Blues, coaching them in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

It was announced in August 2013 that the captaincy for the 2013–14 season would be split between Gavin Duffy, John Muldoon (rugby player born 1982) and the team's most capped player, Michael Swift. This followed changes between Duffy and Muldoon as captain in previous seasons.[1]

The team qualified for their third Heineken Cup in a row in 2013–14, again thanks to Leinster, who had also been the reason for Connacht's entry into the previous two tournaments. The eastern province's victory in the 2012–13 European Challenge Cup granted Connacht a berth, and they were drawn into pool 3 with Saracens, Toulouse, and Zebre.

Playing season

Lam's first competitive game in charge was in the 2013–14 Pro12, a 25-16 home win over Zebre. After this game Connacht failed to win their next five games, though they ran Saracens close in Galway, in the first Heineken Cup game of the season.[5] Connacht eventually broke their losing streak with a win in the Heineken Cup, again coming against Zebre, this time in the Stadio XXV Aprile. In their next match, Connacht came close to beating Leinster in Dublin for the first time since 2002, but conceded a late penalty try to lose 16-13.[6]

The team's patchy form continued after the derby with Leinster, and Connacht lost three more games in the Pro12. After a 43-10 defeat to Edinburgh in Murrayfield, former captain of the Super Rugby side the Chiefs, Craig Clarke, was made Connacht's team captain with the others continuing to "lead off the field".[2] On 8 December 2013, however, Connacht defied their form and produced one of the biggest shocks in the history of the Heineken Cup, when they defeated Toulouse in the pool stages in the Stade Ernest-Wallon.[7][8][9]

Connacht were beaten by Toulouse in the return game at the Sportsground, but beat Zebre in the following game to go into the final round of matches with a slim chance of progressing to the quarter-finals. That game however, saw them beaten comfortably by Saracens on a final score of 64-6, with English side running in a record 11 tries.[10] In the league Connacht continued to tussle with Zebre at the foot of the table, before going on a four match winning streak from 15 February to 23 March, earning three try bonus points. This was the team's longest run of wins in 11 years.[11] Following this run of form though, Connacht failed to win another match in the league, finishing in tenth place and level on points with Newport Gwent Dragons in ninth.

Coaching and Management Staff

[12]

Position Name Nationality
Head Coach Pat Lam[13]  New Zealand
Assistant Coach Pat McFarland[13]  Ireland
Skills Coach Dave Ellis[13]  New Zealand
Chief Executive vacant
Team Manager Tim Allnut[13]  New Zealand
Academy Manager/
Eagles Head Coach		 Nigel Carolan[13]  Ireland
Resource Coach(es) Cory Browne[13]
Jimmy Duffy[13]		  New Zealand
 Ireland
Head of Strength and
Conditioning		 Tom McLaughlin[13]  England
Performance Analyst Conor McPhillips[13]  Ireland
Head Physio Gavin Malouf[13]  Australia

Senior Playing Squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Jason Harris-Wright Hooker Ireland Ireland
Dave Heffernan Hooker Ireland Ireland
Seán Henry Hooker Ireland Ireland
James Rael Hooker Ireland Ireland
Rodney Ah You* Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Denis Buckley Prop Ireland Ireland
JP Cooney Prop Ireland Ireland
Ronan Loughney Prop Ireland Ireland
Nathan White Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Brett Wilkinson Prop Ireland Ireland
Andrew Browne Lock Ireland Ireland
Craig Clarke (c) Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Mick Kearney Lock Ireland Ireland
Aly Muldowney* Lock England England
David Nolan Lock Ireland Ireland
Michael Swift* Lock England England
Danny Qualter Lock Ireland Ireland
Aaron Conneely Flanker Ireland Ireland
Mata Fafita* Flanker Tonga Tonga
Willie Faloon Flanker Ireland Ireland
Jake Heenan Flanker New Zealand New Zealand
John Muldoon Flanker Ireland Ireland
Eoin McKeon Number 8 Ireland Ireland
George Naoupu Number 8 New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Frank Murphy Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Paul O'Donohoe Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Miah Nikora* Fly-half New Zealand New Zealand
Dan Parks Fly-half Scotland Scotland
Craig Ronaldson Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Eoin Griffin Centre Ireland Ireland
Robbie Henshaw Centre Ireland Ireland
Dave McSharry Centre Ireland Ireland
Brian Murphy Centre Ireland Ireland
Kyle Tonetti Centre Ireland Ireland
Fionn Carr Wing Ireland Ireland
Matt Healy Wing Ireland Ireland
Tiernan O'Halloran Wing Ireland Ireland
Danie Poolman Wing South Africa South Africa
Gavin Duffy Fullback Ireland Ireland
James So'oialo Fullback Samoa Samoa

Academy Squad 2013/14

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Finlay Bealham Prop Ireland Ireland year 2
Peter Reilly Prop Ireland Ireland year 2
Jamie Dever Prop Ireland Ireland year 2
Saba Meunargia Prop Ireland Ireland year 1
Jacob Walshe Prop Ireland Ireland year 1
Ultan Dillane Lock Ireland Ireland year 2
Conor Kindregan Lock Ireland Ireland year 1
Seán O'Brien Lock Ireland Ireland year 1
James Connolly Flanker Ireland Ireland year 1
Rory Moloney Flanker Ireland Ireland year 1
Eoghan Masterson Number 8 Scotland Scotland year 1
Player Position Union
Marcus Walsh Scrum-half Ireland Ireland year 2
Caolin Blade Scrum-half Ireland Ireland year 1
Jack Carty Fly-half Ireland Ireland year 3
Conor Finn Centre Ireland Ireland year 3
Tadhg Leader Centre Ireland Ireland year 3
Rory Parata Centre Ireland Ireland year 1
Shane Layden Wing Ireland Ireland year 3
Steve McCauley Wing England England year 2
Darragh Leader Fullback Ireland Ireland year 2
David Panter Fullback Ireland Ireland year 1

Preseason Transfers

Playing Kit

Connacht's European kit for the season.

The Connacht team and support staff kit supplier for the season was Australian manufacturer BLK sport, who announced a comprehensive four-year agreement to supply the full range of apparel for all of Connacht Rugby’s representative teams and support staff in 2013.[20] They took the place of previous supplier RugbyTech.

Mazda Ireland continued as the main shirt sponsors, as part of a deal signed with Connacht to run from 2012 to 2014 as part of major sponsorship deal to facilitate the development of both brands.[21]

2013–14 Pro12

Pro12 Table
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Try Bonus Losing Bonus Points
1 Ireland Leinster (CH) 22 17 1 4 554 352 +202 57 30 8 4 82
2 Scotland Glasgow Warriors (RU) 22 18 0 4 484 309 +175 53 22 4 3 79
3 Ireland Munster (SF) 22 16 0 6 538 339 +199 56 27 7 3 74
4 Ireland Ulster (SF) 22 15 0 7 470 319 +151 45 26 6 4 70
5 Wales Ospreys 22 13 1 8 571 388 +183 59 32 6 6 66
6 Wales Scarlets 22 11 1 10 435 438 −3 43 45 3 6 55
7 Wales Cardiff Blues 22 8 1 13 425 538 −113 32 55 1 6 41
8 Scotland Edinburgh 22 7 0 15 397 526 −129 38 57 2 8 38
9 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 22 7 1 14 392 492 −100 34 46 0 5 35
10 Ireland Connacht 22 6 0 16 371 509 −138 42 54 4 7 35
11 Italy Benetton Treviso 22 5 1 16 376 591 −215 31 72 1 7 30
12 Italy Zebre 22 5 2 15 347 559 −212 35 59 0 5 29

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[22]

  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest number of red cards received;
    7.
  7. the fewest number of yellow cards received.
Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places, and earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places, that earn a place in the European Rugby Champions Cup. Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

European Rugby Champions/Challenge Cup qualification: The top team from each country, plus the three highest-placed teams apart from those, will qualify for the European Rugby Champions Cup. The remaining teams qualify for the European Rugby Challenge Cup. Updated 19 May 2014. Source: RaboDirect PRO12

    The weekend dates for the 2013–14 season were announced on 19 July 2013. [23] All times are local.[24]

    7 September 2013
    17:00
    Connacht Ireland 25–16 Italy Zebre
    Try: White 4' m
    Healy 29' c
    Carr 75' c
    Con: Parks (2/3)
    Pen: Parks (2/4) 37', 62'
    		 Report Try: Manici 80' c
    Con: Orquera (1/1)
    Pen: Orquera (3/3) 7', 46', 60'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,084
    Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)
    13 September 2013
    19:05
    Cardiff Blues Wales 21–10 Ireland Connacht
    Pen: Patchell (6/9) 20', 26', 52', 67', 74', 78'
    Drop: Patchell (1/1) 33'
    		 Report Try: Healy 12' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Pen: Parks (1/3) 40'
    Cardiff Arms Park
    Attendance: 6,874
    Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)
    21 September 2013
    18:45
    Connacht Ireland 7–18 Ireland Ulster
    Try: Parks 10' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    		 Report Try: Allen 15' m
    Jackson 57' c
    Con: Jackson (1/2)
    Pen: Jackson (2/4) 55', 64'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,485
    Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
    28 September 2013
    17:00
    Connacht Ireland 26–43 Wales Ospreys (1 BP)
    Try: Poolman 55' c
    Marmion 62' c
    Con: Parks (2/2)
    Pen: Ronaldson (4/5) 4', 26', 32', 37'
    		 Report Try: Biggar 7' c
    Fussell 15' c
    Walker 29' m
    Tebaldi 59' c
    Hassler 71' c
    A. W. Jones 77' c
    Con: Biggar (5/6)
    Pen: Biggar (1/1) 35'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,888
    Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
    4 October 2013
    20:30
    Benetton Treviso Italy 23–3 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Zanni 52' c
    Morisi 79' c
    Con: Botes (2/2)
    Pen: Di Bernardo (3/3) 8', 34', 40'
    		 Report Pen: Parks (1/2) 51'
    Stadio Comunale di Monigo
    Attendance: 3,948
    Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU)
    26 October 2013
    18:45
    Leinster Ireland 16–13 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: penalty try 77' c
    Con: Madigan (1/1)
    Pen: Madigan (3/4) 10', 29', 40'
    		 Report Try: Marmion 13' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Pen: Parks (2/3) 2', 7'
    RDS Arena
    Attendance: 16,780
    Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
    2 November 2013
    17:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 12–19 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
    Pen: Parks (2/4) 15', 51'
    Ronaldson (2/3) 61', 69'
    		 Report Try: van der Merwe 5' c
    Con: Weir (1/1)
    Pen: Weir (4/4) 24', 33', 55', 79'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,185
    Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
    23 November 2013
    17:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 21–24 Wales Scarlets
    Try: Healy 56' c
    Harris-Wright 67' m
    Con: Ronaldson (1/1)
    Pen: Ronaldson (3/4) 3', 9', 34'
    		 Report Try: Climo 38' c
    Myhill 47' c
    G. Davies 52' c
    Con: A. Thomas (3/3)
    Pen: A. Thomas (1/1) 21'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,172
    Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
    29 November 2013
    19:45
    (1 BP) Edinburgh Scotland 43–10 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Fife 40' c
    du Preez 73' c
    De Luca 77' c
    Nel 79' c
    Con: Laidlaw (4/4)
    Pen: Laidlaw (5/5) 9', 20', 29', 51', 59'
    		 Report Try: Henshaw 15' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Drop: Parks (1/1) 11'
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 3,515
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
    21 December 2013
    17:00
    Connacht Ireland 14–11 Wales Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
    Try: Carr 75' m
    Pen: Parks (2/3) 33', 44'
    Drop: Parks (1/1) 80'
    		 Report Try: D. Evans 8' m
    Pen: Tovey (2/3) 16', 51'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,033
    Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
    27 December 2013
    19:15
    Munster Ireland 22–16 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Hanrahan 20' c
    Con: Hanrahan (1/1)
    Pen: Hanrahan (5/5) 9', 29', 44', 50', 76'
    		 Report Try: Heffernan 80' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Pen: Parks (3/3) 13', 16', 61'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 18,870
    Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
    4 January 2014
    19:15
    Connacht Ireland 8–16 Ireland Leinster
    Try: Carr 22' m
    Pen: Carty (1/1) 40'
    		 Report Try: D'Arcy 73' c
    Con: Gopperth (1/1)
    Pen: Madigan (1/3) 36'
    Gopperth (2/2) 57', 63'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,210
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    9 February 2014
    14:00
    Glasgow Warriors Scotland 8–6 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Bennett 18' m
    Pen: Jackson (1/4) 43'
    		 Report Pen: Ronaldson (2/5) 8', 40'
    Scotstoun Stadium
    Attendance: 3,904
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
    15 February 2014
    17:00
    Connacht Ireland 11–7 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP)
    Try: Swift 47' m
    Pen: Ronaldson (1/4) 20'
    Parks (1/1) 68'
    		 Report Try: Grant 7' c
    Con: Bezuidenhout (1/1)
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 4,038
    Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)
    23 February 2014
    17:30
    Zebre Italy 19–27 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Venditti 58' c
    Vunisa 66' m
    van Schalkwyk 78' c
    Con: Nathan (1/2)
    Chillon (1/1)
    		 Report Try: Ah You 5' m
    Marmion 26' c
    penalty try 37' c
    Griffin 56' m
    Con: Parks (2/4)
    Pen: Parks (1/1) 3'
    Stadio XXV Aprile
    Attendance: 1,265
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    1 March 2014
    17:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 38–6 Italy Benetton Treviso
    Try: Carr 5' c
    Muldoon (2) 13' c, 63' c
    Marmion 33' c
    McKeon 75' c
    Con: Parks (4/4)
    Nikora (1/1)
    Pen: Parks (1/1) 23'
    		 Report Pen: Berquist (2/3) 9', 21'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 3,850
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
    23 March 2014
    15:05
    Newport Gwent Dragons Wales 8–24 Ireland Connacht (1 BP)
    Try: Prydie 69' m
    Pen: Tovey (1/2) 2'
    		 Report Try: Muldoon (2) 17' c, 67' m
    Ah You 23' c
    Swift 79' m
    Con: Parks (2/2)
    Rodney Parade
    Attendance: 5,474
    Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
    30 March 2014
    14:05
    (1 BP) Scarlets Wales 32–30 Ireland Connacht (2 BP)
    Try: J. Davies 2' c
    G. Davies 49' c
    Turnbull 52' m
    Maule 79' c
    Con: Priestland (3/4)
    Pen: Priestland (2/5) 24', 34'
    		 Report Try: Marmion 55' m
    Carr 72' c
    Henshaw 75' m
    McKeon 80' c
    Con: Nikora (2/3)
    Pen: Parks (2/2) 6', 22'
    Parc y Scarlets
    Attendance: 6,111
    Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
    11 April 2014
    19:05
    (1 BP) Ulster Ireland 58–12 Ireland Connacht
    Try: P. Marshall (2) 5' m, 25' c
    Trimble (3) 16' m, 42' c, 59' c
    Bowe 23' c
    L. Marshall 48' c
    Gilroy 68' c
    Con: Jackson (5/7)
    McKinney (1/1)
    Pen: Jackson (2/2) 12', 40'
    		 Report Try: McSharry 8' m
    Leader 62' c
    Con: Nikora (1/1)
    Ravenhill Stadium
    Attendance: 13,948
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    19 April 2014
    18:15
    Connacht Ireland 23–32 Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Healy 20' m
    McKeon 53' m
    Poolman 78' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Pen: Nikora (2/2) 15', 63'
    		 Report Try: Conway 17' c
    van den Heever 34' c
    D. Hurley 38' c
    Butler 72' m
    Con: Keatley (3/4)
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 26', 30'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 6,227
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    3 May 2014
    17:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 15–22 Wales Cardiff Blues
    Try: Healy 26' c
    Henshaw 45' m
    Con: Nikora (1/2)
    Pen: Nikora (1/1) 22'
    		 Report Try: penalty try 56' c
    Jones 59' c
    Fish 69' m
    Con: G. Davies (2/2)
    Pen: G. Davies (1/1) 40'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 5,168
    Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
    10 May 2014
    18:30
    (1 BP) Ospreys Wales 45–20 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Hassler 12' c
    Beck (2) 27' c, 45' c
    A. W. Jones 36' c
    N. Smith 60' c
    Baker 68' c
    Con: Biggar (6/6)
    Pen: Biggar (1/1) 34'
    		 Report Try: Leader 17' m
    Buckley 40' c
    Gilsenan 63' m
    Con: Nikora (1/3)
    Pen: Nikora (1/1) 4'
    Liberty Stadium
    Attendance: 6,403
    Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)

    2013–14 Heineken Cup

    Pool 3

    Team P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
    France Toulouse (5) 6 5 0 1 143 63 +80 16 4 2 1 23
    England Saracens (8) 6 4 0 2 217 74 +143 29 5 3 1 20
    Ireland Connacht 6 3 0 3 101 147 −46 7 20 0 1 13
    Italy Zebre 6 0 0 6 33 210 −177 2 25 0 0 0
    Source : www.ercrugby.com
    Points breakdown:
    *4 points for a win
    *2 points for a draw
    *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
    *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
    11 October 2013
    20:00
    (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 17–23 England Saracens
    Try: Marmion 17' c
    Poolman 30' c
    Con: Parks (2/2)
    Pen: Parks (1/2) 7'
    		 Report Try: Wyles 5' c
    Ashton 8' c
    Con: Farrell (2/2)
    Pen: Farrell (3/3) 25', 52', 74'
    The Sportsground
    Attendance: 7,546
    Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)
    19 October 2013
    14:35
    Zebre Italy 6–33 Ireland Connacht
    Pen: Orquera (2/2) 5', 48'
    		 Report Try: Naoupu 29' c
    Fafita 70' m
    Con: Parks (1/2)
    Pen: Parks (7/7) 1', 7', 34', 37', 58', 60', 64'
    Stadio XXV Aprile
    Attendance: 2,000
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
    8 December 2013
    16:00
    (1 BP) Toulouse France 14–16 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Barraque 39' c
    Dusautoir 64' c
    Con: Barraque (1/1)
    Beauxis (1/1)
    		 Report Try: Marmion 47' c
    Con: Parks (1/1)
    Pen: Parks (2/3) 12', 45'
    Drop: Parks (1/2) 15'
    Stade Ernest-Wallon
    Attendance: 16,742
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
    14 December 2013
    18:00
    Connacht Ireland 9–37 France Toulouse (1 BP)
    Pen: Parks (1/2) 2'
    Drop: Parks (2/2) 13', 32'
    		 Report Try: Médard (2) 11' c, 26' m
    Tolofua 36' c
    Picamoles 54' m
    Fickou 78' c
    Con: Beauxis (3/5)
    Pen: Beauxis (2/4) 4', 72'
    The Sportsground
    Attendance: 7,661
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
    11 January 2014
    15:40
    Connacht Ireland 20–3 Italy Zebre
    Try: Healy 34' c
    Henshaw 42' c
    Con: Carty (2/2)
    Pen: Carty (2/3) 24', 29'
    		 Report Pen: Orquera (1/2) 15'
    The Sportsground
    Attendance: 5,217
    Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
    18 January 2014
    13:35
    (1 BP) Saracens England 64–6 Ireland Connacht
    Try: Ashton (2) 10' m, 80' c
    Strettle (3) 26' m, 41' m, 76' m
    Brits 40' m
    Goode 49' m
    Kruis 57' c
    Wyles 65' m
    Wray 68' c
    Johnston 71' m
    Con: Hodgson (3/10)
    Pen: Hodgson (1/2) 22'
    		 Report Pen: Parks (2/2) 5', 20'
    Allianz Park
    Attendance: 9,614
    Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

    Notes

      Related

      2013–14 Munster Rugby season

      References

      1. 1 2 "Connacht name Club Captains". RaboDirectPro12. 27 August 2013.
      2. 1 2 Fallon, John (4 December 2013). "Clarke asked to captain Connacht as Mafi looks forward to return from suspension". Daily Mail. London.
      3. ↑ "Eric Elwood departure from Connacht confirmed". RTÉ Sport. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
      4. ↑ "Lam Appointed As Connacht Head Coach". Irish Rugby. 12 January 2013.
      5. ↑ "Saracens forced to fight tooth and nail in fight against Connacht". Irish Independent. 11 October 2013.
      6. ↑ "Leinster edge past unlucky Connacht". RTÉ Sport. 27 October 2013.
      7. ↑ "Toulouse 14 Connacht 16". Daily Telegraph. London. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
      8. ↑ "Lam basks in glow of Connacht's finest hour". Irish Independent. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
      9. ↑ "Connacht diehards shock French aristocrats". Irish Examiner. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
      10. ↑ "Report: Record try haul for rampant Sarries". ERC. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
      11. ↑ "Connacht slay Dragons at Rodney Parade for bonus point win". The Score. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
      12. ↑ http://www.connachtrugby.ie/
      13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Management Team". Connacht Rugby. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
      14. ↑ http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2013052083320/sooialo-completes-squad-for-201314
      15. ↑ http://www.connachtrugby.ie/news-centre/Page-2
      16. ↑ "Reynecke word 'n Cheetah". SupaRugby (in Afrikaans). 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
      17. ↑ "Willie bly 'n Cheetah". Beeld (in Afrikaans). Media24. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
      18. ↑ "Heyneke sal Lappies, Siya in Kaap dophou". Die Burger (in Afrikaans). Media24. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
      19. ↑ "James So'oailo released by Connacht on compassionate grounds". Irish Independent. 26 October 2013.
      20. ↑ "Connacht strike new deal with Australian kit suppliers". Galway Advertiser. 20 June 2013.
      21. ↑ "Connacht seal lucrative Mazda deal". Irish Independent. 3 August 2011.
      22. ↑ Competition Rule 3.5 "Summary of Key Rules". Pro12. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
      23. ↑ "RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures for 2013/14 Season Announced". Pro12. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
      24. ↑ "RaboDirect PRO12 Fixtures & Results". Pro12. Celtic Rugby. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
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